Koremyth

Hey, thought I would post a new journal entry since it's been awhile

I haven't been very good about updating here on DA, but I update my blog more regularly and I'm about to start a tumblr, too, so if you want to see some more stuff (and sketches and things that I don't post on DA) then check out one of my blogs:

My blogger blog: amandasketches.blogspot.com/

my tumblr blog (just started so nothing there yet, but stay tuned): amandaho.tumblr.com/

I've read manga since I was a kid, but it wasn't until the past couple of years that I started reading western comics. I always thought that all western comics were just superhero stuff, but I've realized that there are all kinds of good comics out there now (not that superhero stuff is bad, just not my cup of tea most of the time).

Anyway, I know a lot of people who only read western comics, or who only read manga (or neither!), and I think that's a shame because there are a lot of good things about both kinds of comics, but I think that you have to get past certain conventions in either manga or western comics when you go from reading one to the other. There are both good and bad things that both manga and western comics (American comics anyway--I can't really speak much for European comics because I haven't read enough of them yet) have going for them. Here are what I think are the pros and cons for the two, for me personally.

Western comics:

Pros:
-Comics are usually split between a writer, artist, and colorist. This often leads to an overall strong comic, because everyone is doing what they are good at.
-Although there is clearly a standard comic book style, there is also a lot of opportunity for a wide variety of art and approaches (such as comics by artists like Kent Williams and Shaun Tan).
-Credit is given where credit is due. And most pencillers do all of the art themselves, so there is consistency there (which manga often lacks).
-Backgrounds are given the love they deserve.
-Clarity. Straightforward paneling, art, etc. makes western comics a pretty clear read, IMO.
-Color, color, and did I mention color?

Cons:
-Most of what is out there is still superhero stuff. And there is a steep "learning curve" in the sense that there often isn't a very good jumping off point to get into the story.
-The standard often isn't very high for artists and colorists (so many comic colorists confess to knowing nothing about color theory!). Writers tend to receive all of the praise if a comic is successful, with the art seeming subordinate.
-A narrow audience (that is fortunately expanding in recent years, IMO) leads to a lack of variety in stories and style.
-Mostly male-targeted audience (also seems to be changing in recent years, IMO).
-Speech bubbles and sound effects are often distracting and detract from the art and story.
-Changes artists within a series. It makes it feel like I'm reading a different story. If the art is really bad it often ruins the story even though the writing is still the same.

Manga:

Pros:
-Broad audience. So many people read manga that there is really something for everyone out there, (in terms of story)
-Stories have a beginning. And an ending. I don't want to read 60 years worth of comics on a character.
-The art and paneling is often more abstract and linked to characters emotions or just focuses on the aesthetic of the page, as opposed to western comics which seem to have a more cinematic feel, like you are looking at screenshots from a movie.
-The sound effects and speech bubbles look like they belong with the art, and artists will change how they draw them to fit the art and story.
-In general, the art sells the comic, so craftsmanship is often high.
-One artist draws the entire story.

Cons:
-Where is the love for color? I like B&W but there is a whole principle of design that is rarely explored here. It's almost always ink and tone, too.
-Although I mentioned the vast variety of stories, there also seems to be really strict genre conventions. Maybe this comes from having read so much manga, but I feel like the stories are often extremely predictable.
-Where is the credit for all of those poor artists doing the inks and hashing out backgrounds for manga?
-A lack of backgrounds. And a lot of artist don't do their own backgrounds, which leads to inconsistency (look at the Sailor Moon comics).
-Art is often vague (partly because manga artists seem to avoid backgrounds like it's a taboo) and difficult to follow (I'm thinking of Yukiru Sugisaki's recent work such as Lagoon Engine as a good example of this problem).
-Lack of style variation in the art.

As a disclaimer, I'm speaking in general terms here. There are plenty of comics that blend the best of both worlds. This is just what I commonly encounter and either love or hate with eastern/western comics.

Western comics I luv: The Walking Dead, Local, Fables, The Mouse Guard, The Wizard of Oz (Skottie Young)

Manga I luv: Deathnote, Immortal Rain, Not Simple, Nana, Suikoden III

I could tell that my monitor had been getting very out of wack over the past few years I had it, so I finally invested in a colorimeter and got myself an X-rite Eye-one Display 2 (yeah long title). The difference was huge after calibrating my monitor. Not only was it way too blue, it was too bright and the contrast was off. Hopefully my more recent stuff will look more accurate now (unless everyone else has bad monitors, too, or maybe just calibrates them differently).

Digital art is kind of funny that way--there is no original to look at. I'll never really know what exactly anything I paint on the computer looks like. But the pros of course outweigh that downside.

Sleeping in until lunchtime.

Playing video games in your pajamas.

Browsing the most useless websites evar because you can.

Eating sugar and calling it a meal.

Guys, don't give up lazy Saturdays. They rock.

Why is it that when I have to get up early the next morning, I can never sleep? THEN, when I have a day I can sleep as late as I want, I wake up early and can't fall back asleep? It's psychological, I tell you!

Unfortunately, I need to get up early tomorrow, which means I can't sleep. Which means late night ramblings.

So, the professor of a class I collaborated with for an art exhibit said that "painting is a dead art form." Am I the only one who doesn't think that is total crap?!? I think sometimes people want to take the "everything's been done" attitude to sound all smart, as if they know it all and can't be fooled. Like scientists in the 19th century who thought science had reached its peak. I think it's a stupid and egotistical stance to take.

Besides, isn't the whole point of making art to express yourself, and even, heaven forbid, enjoy yourself? That's why I make art, anyway. Just because someone else in the past has explored the same idea/subject/technique doesn't mean that a person has nothing unique to offer. Dead, I think not.